SOC 15-2031 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Operations Research Analysts H-1B wage levels in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $127,359. Level III starts at $108,576, Level II at $89,773 and Level I at $70,991.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Operations Research Analysts in Buffalo, NY?
For the 2026–27 wage year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the U.S. Department of Labor sets four H-1B prevailing wage levels for Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY wage area: Level I is $70,991 a year, Level II $89,773, Level III $108,576 and Level IV $127,359. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $127,359 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $70,991 up to $89,772 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Buffalo, NY has the #19 highest Level IV wage for this job, 14% above the median metro ($111,967). The same $89,773 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Madison, WI. These figures apply to the FY 2028 registration in March 2027.
| Wage level | Annual salary at least | Hourly | Lottery entries | DHS projected odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $70,991 | $34.13 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $89,773 | $43.16 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $108,576 | $52.20 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $127,359 | $61.23 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Buffalo, NY
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $89,773 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other New York metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Operations Research Analysts in Buffalo, NY?
At least $127,359 a year ($61.23/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-2031 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Erie County, NY; Niagara County, NY.
Do these numbers apply to the March 2027 registration?
Yes. The FY 2028 registration in March 2027 uses the wage year in effect then, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Operations Research Analysts wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Learn more: How to legitimately raise your wage level · Lottery level vs. LCA level · FY 2028 registration
Annual salary in U.S. dollars, rounded up. Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, computed directly from the DOL file (methodology). Page updated 2026-10-14.